Condemned Apples.—Experts Differ.

King Country Chronicle, Volume II, Issue 100, 25 September 1908, Page 3

Condemned Apples. —Experts Differ.

An interesting difference of opinion has arisen between the experts of the Victorian and New Zealand Vegetation Diseases departments. A report was recently forwarded to the Victorian Minister of Agriculture by Mr M'Alpine, vegetable pathologist, stating that he had received a specimen of a variety of apple known as Munro's Favorite, which was one of a case of apples condemned in New Zealand by the local fruit expert as being infected with the disease known as coniothecium chomatosporum. The apples were grown by Messrs Hill Bros., at Ararat, and were fine specimens, without any disease whatever. The New Zealand expert who condemned the fruit pointed to the russet like marks round the stalk of the apple, and stated that this was a very serious disease, and one that was being rigidly excluded from New Zealand. So far from the russet marks being a disease they were a natural characteristic of this variety of apple. He had microscopically examined the fruit, and there, was no trace of any fungus. The disease mentioned had never been found in Victoria, and if the New Zealand pathologist could produce an example of it he would make an addition to the fungoid flora of Australia.

A copy of this report was forwarded to the New Zealand department, and a reply has been received. It states that the inspector at Wellington has not the least doubt about the identification of the disease. Pie has a number of example of this fungus and is familiar with it. Unfortunately no specimens were retained of the apples recondemned, but that would be done in future. The Victorian department has replied that as the matter is an important one from the point of view of the Government Pathologist, it would be obliged if a sample of the disease was forwarded for the use of the herbarium. The Victorian officers are awaiting with interest the production of one of the alleged specimens.